The Washington critic., 1887-12-07
METHODS OF MAKING PRESI-
DENTAL NOMINATIONS.
The Caucus System...ItS Growth, De-
cline and Fall.
National Conventions and the Various
Cities Where They Have
Been Held.

the next National Conventions il may
be of interest to know something of the
origin of political conventions, and how
different are the methods of nomination
now in vogue from those of an earlier
period in the history of the Republic.
In the beginning candidates for Presi-
dent and President were nomi-
mated by Congressional and legislative
caucuses, u mode Of procedure that
nowadays would be deemed imprac-
ticablc.
Washington was elected the first time by
the unanimous voice of his countrymen,
but his election for second term was not
without slight opposition. From the seed
of this opposition sprang the two great
parties that since that time have fought the
political battles of the country, with various
changrs of name and policy.
The leaders of the two parties that came
into being with the second term of Washing
ton were John Adams of Massachusetts,
chief of the Foderilists, and Thomas 1cllcr-
son of Virginia, the father of what was then
the Republican, now known as the Demo-
critic party.
JEFFERSON AND ADAMS.
In tho election that followed the retire
ment of General Washington, jefferson and
Adams, representing the opposing factions,
were by common consent the candidates of
their respective adhcrents, and Adams led
IN the race, Jefferson receiving the next
largest popular vote and being elected Vice
. President. There were no electoral COLLEGES
at that time.
THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS
of which there is any record met in Phila-
dolphin in the year 1900, and nominated
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr for Presi-
dent and Vice President The opposing
candidates. Mr.. Adams and Charles c. Pink
ney, are supposed to have been brought out
by their friends without any formal nomi-
nation, us there is no record of any other
Congressional caucus being held that year.
cAucusEs IN wAsHrSGToS.
Congressional caucus similar to that of
1900 was held in this city in ls0s, and bal
loted for candidates, and nowhere was OBJ
lection raised to administration influence"
-Four years later, 1872, another caucus was
held here, and the opposition in the same
year met in New York and nominated De
- Witt Clinton of that State as their candidate.
isido being nominated by the caucus, he
was also nominated by theState Legislature.
h END OF KING CAUCUS.
Up to 1924 nominations by Congressional
caucuscs were accepted without much oppo.
sition, but the time has now arrived for
change. When this caucus met the Ropub-
licans refused to abide by its decision and
majority ballot, but the caucus went on
with only sixty-six members present out of
zig. The nomination that was madc-that
of William ii. Crawford, Democrat-was
generally repudiated throughout the coun-
try, and this was the signal for a number of
aspirants TO take the field. General Jack
son, Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams
were brought out by their friends or the Leg
islaturcs of various States, in addition to
Mr.. Crawford, who had received the nomi-
nation of the caucus, thus making four
competitors in the Presidential race. The
result of that famous contest was that the
House of Representatives was called upon
to elect the President, and Mr.. Adams was
chosen.
GENERAL JAcKsoN's ELECTION.
The election Of Adams by the House ended
"king Caucus" General jackson was inn
mcdiately thereafter put in nomination for
the ensuing term by the Legislature of Ten
ncssee, having only Mr. Adams for an oppo-
mont, in ls2S, and was elected by decided
majority, receiving lTS electoral votes to 50
FOR Adams; John G. Calhoun, who had at
first aspircd to the Presidency, in 1924, with
drew ut an early stage from the canvass, and
was thercupon chosen Vice President by a
very large majority Mr.. Albert Gallatin
Of Pennsylvania (the caucus candidate ON
the Crawford tckep being his only serious
competitor
In 1873 Mr.. Calhoun was the candidate for
Vice-Prcsident ON the Jackson ticket and
was OF course reelected. 1t was currently
stated that the concentration of the Crawford
and Calhoun strength on this ticket was
mainly effected by Martin Van Buren, and
Churchill c. Cambrelling. of New York, dur
Ing Southern tour made by them in 1927
In 1898 Richard Rush of Pennsylvania was
the candidate for Vice-Prcsident on the
Adams ticket.
THE FIRST CONVENTION.
What may be termed the really first poll
a. the Anti-Alasonic Convention held in
Philadelphiain 1880. This convention some.
what resembled the conventions of the pres
ent time ms the delegates were chosen by
the people of the different States for the pur-
pose of making nominations for the Presi-
dercy and Nice-Presidency But at the first
convention nothing was done beyond passing
recommending that the delegates meet the
next year and select candidates. The place
selected was Baltimore, and in September
1881, the National Anti Masonic Convention
met in that city and nominated ticket
but adopted no platform; theymerely issued
an address to the people, stating why they
should be intrtlsted with the affairs of the
Nation.
TnE BALTIMORE CONVENTION OF 1882.
About the year 1882 the name "Republi-
can was dropped and that of democrat"
substituted. General Jackson had no opposi.
tion in his own party for renomination, but
q convention to nominate Vice. President
was called to meet Baltimore in May, 1882
The proceedings were opened by General
Robert Lucas, of Ohio, who introduced what
Is known as the two-thrds rule After the
Nicc-Prcsident had been selected the 'con-
vention passed n resolution, cordially concur
ring in the repeated nominations which GEN
erai jackson had received in various parts of
the country for reelection rs President"
The National Conventions now began to
assume definite form and were called TO meet
something after the manner of the present
day, The difference with the carly convcn-
tions was that they were held some months
IN advance OF one another and frequently in
diiicren. cities
The ahi-Masonio Convention mentioned
sbovc, which met in Baltimore September
~, 1881, Nominated William Writ for Presi-
dent and Amos Ellmaker of Pennsylvania
for Vicc-President. The convention was at
tended by liz delegates.
The National Republican Convention ut
Baltimore December 10, 1881, nominated
Henry Ciay for President and John Sergeant
OF Pennsylvania for Vice President James
Barbour of Virginia was president of the
Soayention
che Democratic or jackson National Con-
vention at Baltimore in May, lS32, numi-
mated Mr.. Van Buren, for Vice President.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1888.
The Democratic Convention at Baltimore
In May, VS35, was presided over by Andrew
Stevenson of Virginia. The ticket was COM